Biotechnology News: Briefs

According to digitaljournal.com, Monsanto blames the failure of the three varieties of corn planted on these farms, in three South African provinces, on alleged 'underfertilization processes in the laboratory.' DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware, USA) and the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Beijing) have entered into a multi -year, exclusive research collaboration to improve in -plant insect control to help increase worldwide crop yields.

inform May 2009, Vol. 20 (5) 305
Briefs
At the end of March, digitaljournal.com
Biotechnology News
reported that farmers in South Africa
were negatively affected by 82,000
hectares of Monsanto Co. (St. Louis,
Missouri, USA) corn (maize) that failed
to produce, or underproduced, seeds.
Monsanto officials put the number of
hectares at closer to 75,000 and con-
firmed that they would “fully compen-
sate farmers who experienced the
reduction in pollination.” Accord-
ing to digitaljournal.com, “Monsanto
blames the failure of the three vari-
eties of corn planted on these farms,
in three South African provinces, on
alleged ‘underfertilization processes
in the laboratory.’ Some 280 of the
1,000 farmers who planted the three
varieties of Monsanto corn this year
have reported extensive seedless corn
problems.” Monsanto responded with
the following: “In order to maximize
seed production yields during 2007
seed production, the male and female
inbreds of these three hybrids [in ques-
tion] were reversed. This process of
reversing the male and female is a
common practice in hybrid produc- EU member states quoted British Green Member of European
Parliament Caroline Lucas:
tion that existed before the advent
of biotechnology. In this situation, take action on GM “Today’s decision by EU environ-
ment ministers is great news for the envi-
the three hybrids produced using the
same female inbred have experienced
ban ronment, farmers, and consumers—and
sets a good precedent for future cam-
variable pollen production. Monsanto In early March, European Union (EU) envi- paigns against genetically modified crops.
teams have reviewed the seed pro- ronment ministers voted by a wide margin For the many regions in the EU that have
duction method for the three hybrids in favor of allowing member states Austria expressed doubts over GM technology,
and will make the necessary changes and Hungary to maintain their ban on genet- today’s vote shows that it is still possible
ically modified (GM) maize. The European to be GM-free.”
to ensure good pollinating hybrids in
Commission (EC), the EU’s legislative arm, A spokesperson for GM lobby group
the future.” Monsanto plans to meet
had sought for the ban on Monsanto Com- EuropaBio disagreed.
with each affected farmer over the
pany-produced MON 810 to be lifted. Both “[The] vote is a political sidestep that
next two months. the EC’s scientific panel and the European goes against the wishes of Europe’s farmers
nnn
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have found who are increasingly demanding the choice
Myiris.com reported in March that a the GM maize to be safe. to grow biotech crops,” Nathalie Moll said
study out of India found that use of “[This] vote is a clear message that in The Financial Times.
Bt cotton seed lowered production European countries will not be bullied into Among the countries that decided to
costs, boosted yields, and increased taking unsound decisions regarding their support Austria and Hungary in their bans
income: “The cost of production [of] environment, their farming, and their citi- were Spain, Italy, and Germany. Germany’s
a quintal, which went down by 11% zens’ health,” The Financial Times quoted Süddeutsche Zeitung quoted that country’s
in 2005, was lower by 31% in 2006– Helen Holder, coordinator for GMO (GM environment minister, Siegmar Gabriel, as
07, the study conducted by research- organisms) for the environmental group saying:
ers at the Centre for Economic and Friends of the Earth, as saying. “I cannot recognize the product from
Social Sciences (CESS) said. The study, Some government officials in the EU Monsanto as added value for society … the
done by N. Chandrasekhara Rao and echoed this sentiment. Nongovernmental company is forcing dependency on German
S. Mahendra Dev, . . . covered the four organization International Centre for Trade farmers.”
and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
continued on next page
MAY 09 INFORM.indd 305 5/14/09 8:38:04 AM
cotton growing districts of Warangal, 306 inform May 2009, Vol. 20 (5)
Guntur, Kurnool and Nalgonda. As per
the survey, the cost of production had
come down by 31% in 2006–07 from
The Financial Times reported that, in Great Plains. Monsanto sai